Dual access jar for improved storage of high viscosity materials

ABSTRACT

A jar having two open ends in disclosed, each open end may be threaded for engaging a lid. The bottom lid defines an aperture through which a user can insert a finger to push a plunger and the viscous material upward in the jar for more efficacious removal from the top end of the jar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PREVIOUSLY FILED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority to, and incorporates, U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/103,845 entitled “Dual Access Jar for Improved Storage of High Viscosity Materials” filed on Jan. 15, 2015 for Renae VanWhy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a jar for storing perishable foods, and more particularly relates to a jar having a plurality of lids for storing perishable foods and non-perishable substances.

Description of the Related Art

Jars with screw-down lids are well-known in the art, including glass and polymeric jars for storing food perishables such as peanut butter, butter, mayonnaise, and other viscous perishables, as well as certain non-perishables.

The complete removal of viscous perishable and non-perishables from a traditional jar is difficult. Traditional jars suffer from a number of defects and inefficiencies, including that complete removal of viscous perishables from the jar is difficult using conventional handheld implements, such as a knife or spoon. Hard to reach corners of the jar are not easily accessed by these implements; and, consequently not all of the perishables can be used. Jars containing unused perishables still fill the same amount of room in a refrigerator or cabinet as new jars are often kept unnecessarily with the intention of eventually using the unused substance in the jar.

There exists a need in the art for a dual access jar which facilitates easier removal of perishables from the jar. Beneficially, such a jar or apparatus would also provide means for removing perishables through more efficient means than use of a handheld implement. It is therefore desirable that a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables and non-perishables. Beneficially, such an apparatus would overcome many of the difficulties with the prior art by providing portability and efficient means of storing and removing perishables from the jar.

The present invention has been developed in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparati and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a dual access jar for improved storage of viscous material, the target comprising: a hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, wherein the bottom end and the top end are both threaded exteriorly for engaging a interiorly-threaded lid; a top lid threadably connectable to the top end; a bottom lid threadably connectable to the bottom end, the bottom lid defining an aperture at a center point for allowing a finger of user to engage a plunger through the aperture; a cylindrical plunger housed within the polymeric cylinder, the plunger slidable within a hollow recess of the cylinder.

The cylinder may further comprise marcation for estimating a quantity of viscous material remaining in the jar. The hollow polymeric cylinder may be transparent. The plunger may be pushed upward with one of a finger and shaft, the plunger shifting a viscous material housed in the hollow cylinder toward the top end.

A second dual access jar for improved storage of viscous material is provided, the target comprising: a hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end; a top lid connectable to the top end; a bottom lid connectable to the bottom end, the bottom lid defining an aperture at a center point for allowing a finger of user to engage a plunger through the aperture; a cylindrical plunger housed within the polymeric cylinder, the plunger slidable within a hollow recess of the cylinder.

The top lid and bottom lid may be threaded to mate with threading on the hollow polymeric cylinder. The top lid and bottom lid may alternatively snap onto the hollow polymeric cylinder.

A third dual access jar for improved storage of viscous material is provided, the target comprising: a hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a first end and a second end; a first lid connectable to the first end; a second lid connectable to the second end, the second lid defining an aperture at a center point for allowing a finger of user to engage a plunger through the aperture; a cylindrical plunger housed within the polymeric cylinder, the plunger slidable within a hollow recess of the cylinder.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a lower perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a lower perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a lower perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables 100 in accordance with the present invention. The jar 100 comprises a cylinder 102, a bottom lid 104, and top lid 106.

As shown, the jar 100 is threaded exteriorly for engaging an interiorly-threaded surface of the top lid 104. The jar 100 is also threaded interiorly for engaging an interiorly-threaded surface of the top lid 104.

The bottom lid 104 defines an aperture through which a user can insert his finger or another elongated object to push a plunger upwards in the cylinder 102 and also push up viscous perishable food like peanut butter, mayonnaise, butter, and the like; as well as non-perishable items such as foot cream, lotion, spackling paste, and other viscous non-perishables.

FIG. 1B is a lower perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables 150 in accordance with the present invention.

The aperture 152 traverses the bottom lid 104 as shown. The aperture may of any diameter less than the diameter of the cylinder 102, and may be wide enough for one finger or a plurality of fingers. In various embodiments, a shaft is inserted through the aperture and used to force the plunger upwards in place of finger(s).

The viscous materials which may stored in the jar may include perishable foods such as peanut butter, butter, cheese, margin, mayonnaise, and the like. The viscous material may also comprise other substances with commercial, residential or industrial applications, including motor oil, cleaner, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables 200 in accordance with the present invention. The jar 200 comprises a cylinder 102, a top lid 106, a bottom lid 104, and a plunger 202 being engaged by a finger 204.

The cylinder 102, a top lid 106, a bottom lid 104 are substantially described above in relation to FIGS. 1A-1B.

As shown, the finger 204 is inserted through the aperture 152 against the plunger 202 which is housed within the cylinder 102 in a hollow recess defined by the cylinder 102. As the plunger moves upward, it pushes upward and aggregates the perishable food in the jar 200.

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables 300 in accordance with the present invention. The jar 300 comprises a cylinder 102, a top lid 106, a bottom lid 104, and a plunger 202.

As shown, the plunger 202 is disposed between the bottom lid 104 and the top end of the cylinder 102. When stocked with perishable food, the plunger 202 abuts the interior surface of the bottom lid 104.

The plunger 202 may be formed of, or comprise, any organic or polymeric material including nylon, fiberglass, glass, elastomeric materials, and the like. The plunger 202 may be flexible and/or stretchable to ensure that it forms an impermeable bond with the interior surface of the cylinder 102.

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of a dual access jar for improved storage of food perishables 350 in accordance with the present invention.

In some embodiments (not shown), the bottom lid 104 may be formed with the cylinder 102 as one integrated piece, curving around over the bottom open end, disposed against and beneath the plunger 202 in the cylinder.

The plunger 202 may itself my cylindrical with planar top surface and bottom surface, or may have irregularly-shaped top surface and bottom surface. In some embodiments, the top and/or bottom surfaces of the plunger 202 may be concave or convex.

FIG. 3B as shown.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual access jar for improved storage of viscous material, the target comprising: a hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, wherein the bottom end and the top end are both threaded exteriorly for engaging a interiorly-threaded lid; a top lid threadably connectable to the top end; a bottom lid threadably connectable to the bottom end, the bottom lid defining an aperture at a center point for allowing a finger of user to engage a plunger through the aperture; a cylindrical plunger housed within the polymeric cylinder, the plunger slidable within a hollow recess of the cylinder.
 2. The jar of claim 1, the cylinder further comprising marcation for estimating a quantity of viscous material remaining in the jar.
 3. The jar of claim 1, wherein the hollow polymeric cylinder is transparent.
 4. The jar of claim 1, wherein the plunger is pushed upward with one of a finger and shaft, the plunger shifting a viscous material housed in the hollow cylinder toward the top end.
 5. A dual access jar for improved storage of viscous material, the target comprising: a hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end; a top lid connectable to the top end; a bottom lid connectable to the bottom end, the bottom lid defining an aperture at a center point for allowing a finger of user to engage a plunger through the aperture; a cylindrical plunger housed within the polymeric cylinder, the plunger slidable within a hollow recess of the cylinder.
 6. The jar of claim 5, wherein the top lid and bottom lid are threaded to mate with threading on the hollow polymeric cylinder.
 7. The jar of claim 5, wherein the top lid and bottom lid snap onto the hollow polymeric cylinder.
 8. A dual access jar for improved storage of viscous material, the target comprising: a hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a first end and a second end; a first lid connectable to the first end; a second lid connectable to the second end, the second lid defining an aperture at a center point for allowing a finger of user to engage a plunger through the aperture; a cylindrical plunger housed within the polymeric cylinder, the plunger slidable within a hollow recess of the cylinder. 